Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/385846
SEPTEMBER 24-30, 2014 UCW 25 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting, August 14, 1974 (left to right): Henry C. Player, Jr.; Luther Packer, Chairman of Cumberland County Commissioners; Jack Lee, Mayor for City of Fayetteville; Richard L. Player, Jr. & Lonnie M. Player) Tri-Player Investments, LLC developers of Westwood Shopping Center, (top left) Lonnie M. Player, (top right) Henry C. Player, Jr. and (bottom right) Richard L. Player, Jr. Being in business for several decades is an ac- complishment that calls for a celebration and this is a special year for Westwood Shopping Center. Cele- brating forty years, the center's developers are taking the opportunity to acknowledge the history, rejoice in the success and acknowledge the contri- butions of those that have made this milestone pos- sible. Two brothers and a cousin of the Player family had the idea to create a traditional village style strip center with a one-stop-shop appeal. Henry, Lonnie and Richard "Dick" Player realized their dreams with the completion of Phase I. August 14, 1974 marked the Grand Opening Celebration. The center that predated the mall and the All-American Expressway, was built on thirty-five acres in west Fayetteville. At that time, the area was mostly surrounded by dense woods of tall pines. The center offers entre- preneurs a place to launch their business plans while offering simple convenience for shoppers. Five additional phases of construction have been completed and yet some of the original businesses remain. The Pilgrim Gift Shop has been here since the beginning and has become the "go-to" gift shop for our area. This is especially true in December when the store is bursting at the seams with the sights and smells of the holidays. Heritage Jewelers continues to thrive after 40 years in the center. Rose and Steve Berti enjoy watching their son, Ken, at the helm. "Let's go back 40 years. My parents were working hard trying to start a new jewelry store and I was a 7 year old boy more interested to play in the big grass field that is now the movie theatre.", said Berti. "Fast forward 40 years. Now I run Heritage Jewelers and it is my mission to carry out the values and personal service my parents taught me so many years ago. I feel blessed to have been able to be in Westwood Shop- ping Center in the same location for 40 years and to be one of the very few original stores!" The Player family continues to oversee the man- agement of the center along with the next genera- tion. Lonnie M. Player, Jr., Richard L. Player III, and Meredith Player Stiehl have assumed the daily re- sponsibilities with great pride. Westwood is located at the intersection of Morganton Road and McPher- son Church Road and the All-American Freeway. Come shop, eat and be entertained at Westwood!